Police Blotter

CHATHAM TWP. After a fire on Monday, Aug. 6, damaged a boys
bathroom and nearby classroom at Lafayette School, police and
firefighters didn't know what to expect when they responded
Tuesday, Aug. 14, to two fire alarms at adjacent Chat ham High
School on Lafayette Avenue. The first alarm was received at 3:25
a.m. Police Sgt. William Behre and members of the Chatham Township
Volunteer Fire Department responded. According to police, the
building was checked and no fire was found. At 9:58 a.m., Patrolmen
Robert Scheetz and Michael Giannone and members of t he Chatham
Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to an activated fire
ala rm. Police said dust from school construction set off the
alarm.

On Sunday, Aug. 12, between 2:58 and 11:17 a.m., police and
firefighters from the Green Village Volunteer Fire Department
responded to three alarms at the King James Care Center, adjacent
to police headquarters on Southern Boulevard.

Police Sgt. Jayme LaJeunesse said the cause was a faulty smoke
detector in the same room. He said workmen eventually fixed the
problem.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, LaJeunesse and members of the Chatham
Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a tree
on fire at River and Mountainside roads. LaJeunesse said the area
was checked and no fire was found.

Twenty-eight minutes later, LaJeunesse and members of the
Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to Sentinal
Building 10 on Canterbury Road for an activated alarm. Police said
a maintenance worker at the condominium complex located and
repaired a faulty smoke detector.

At 12:28 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, Sgt. Peter Katsakos and
firefighters from the Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department
responded to an activated alarm at a home on Falmouth Road. Police
said construction workers sanding drywall set off the
alarm.

Police and firefighters responded to two alarms on Tuesday, Aug.
7. At 8:50 a.m., Patrolman Jairo Otalora and members of the Green
Village Volunteer Fire Department responded to Kessler Village at
Chatham on Southern Boulevard for an activated alarm. Police said a
resident accidentally set off the alarm while cooking.

At 11:09 a.m., Patrolman Steven Clark and members of the Chatham
Township Volunteer Fire Department went to Gloria Dei Church on
Shunpike Road in response to an alarm. Police said the alarm was
set off by cooking.

Screens Cut

On Monday, Aug. 13, Clark investigated damage at Colony Pool.
Police said someone entered the pool complex and cut screens in an
attempt to enter the building. Investigation is
continuing.

At 1:58 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, Patrolman David Schaffer was
driving along Southern Boulevard and observed a vehicle on the
shoulder of the road. When he stopped to offer assistance, police
said, he observed smoke filling the interior of the car. The Green
Village Fire Department responded. Police said a faulty heater hose
was draining into the engine compartment causing steam to be blown
through the air conditioning ducts.

At 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, workers at the Rolling Hill Co. on
Southern Boulevard notified police that two traffic signs had been
stolen from the parking lot. The signs are valued at
$130.

Underage Drinking

At 11:03 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, Sgt. Eric Carlson responded to
a report of a 14 -year-old who had been drinking. Police said the
youth was walked home by a neighbor concerned for her
well-being.

Police said Carlson spoke with the girl and her parents, whose
address was not released, and "she showed obvious signs of
drinking." The girl was taken by the Chatham Emergency Squad to
Overlook Hospital in Summit for observation. Police are
investigating where she obtained the alcoholic beverage.

Police during the last week investigated several reports of
domestic violence. According to police, the investigations led to
three arrests, including two for simple assault and one for assault
by auto. Names and addresses of those arrested were not provided to
ensure the confidentiality of the victims.

Chatham Borough trees take a beating

CHATHAM Last Friday was not a good day for borough trees. At
1:36 p.m., Patrolman Christopher Tomaino investigated an accident
on Summ it Avenue. Police said Christ Coleman of Chatham was
driving on Summit Avenue when he realized the brakes on his car
were not working. In order to avoid an accident, police said,
Coleman struck several borough-owned trees to stop his vehicle.
Coleman was not injured and no summons was issued. Earlier the same
day, police responded to a report of a damaged tree on River Road.
Police determined the tree had been struck by a motor vehicle which
left the scene.

At 4:10 p.m., O'Connor investigated a crash on Main Street when
a vehicle operated by Baroukh Maher of Great Neck, N.Y., struck a
parked car owned by Kalid Mohamed of Berkeley Heights. Police said
there were no injuries and no summons was issued.

At 4:45 p.m., O'Connor investigated a two-vehicle accident on
Watchung Avenue. Police said a vehicle driven by Linda Schaffeld of
Bridgewater was attempting to turn left from a driveway on to
eastbound Watchung Avenue and collided with a westbound car driven
by David Koharski of Chatham.

Police said an unknown van had stopped in traffic to let
Schaffeld's vehicle into the traffic flow, obstructing both her
view and that of Koharski.

During the week beginning Monday, Aug. 6, and ending Sunday,
Aug. 12, police spent 29 hours on foot and bicycle patrol in the
central business district. Police responded to 15 alarms, assisted
the Chatham Emergency Squad on 14 calls, helped three motorists
whose cars were disabled and four motorists who were locked out of
their vehicles.

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Online Poll

In recent weeks, Long Hill Township and Watchung Borough passed ordinances allowing their police departments to be able to apply for surplus equipment from the Department of Defense. Long Hill recently procured a Humvee to use in times of flooding, which Watchung states as the reason they are getting into the program. However, in cities around the country, police forces have used the program to obtain military gear, such as weapons and armor.
For more background, go to the link below
http://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/watchung-police-department-hopes-to-receive-equipment-from-department-of/article_12ad002a-92b3-5449-a2cc-4b2cf0ce4339.html